SC defers MQM activist's petition

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Monday deferred the second review petition of MQM activist, Saulat Mirza against the death sentence. Mirza is scheduled to be hanged on March 19. Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk heard the Saulat Mirza's application in his chamber. However, Mirza's lawyer Latif Khosa failed to appear before the judge, while his Advocate on Record Chaudhry Akhtar requested the chief justice to adjourn the hearing. The CJP accepting the plea adjourned the case till today.

Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi had issued the black warrants for March 19 of Mirza, currently incarcerated in Mach Prison, Balochistan.

Mirza was sentenced to death by an ATC in May 1999 for murdering the managing director of then named Karachi Electric Supply Corporation Shahid Hamid, his driver Ashraf Brohi and guard Khan Akbar in July 1997.

The SC had already dismissed a review appeal on March 9, 2004 whereas the SHC had dismissed appeals on January 21, 2000 and September 14, 2001 respectively. A mercy appeal was sent to the then President of Pakistan, which was also rejected. Another appeal was filed with President Mamnoon Hussain that also rejected on January 1, 2015.

The MQM activist was set to be hanged on January 7, 2015, but the federal government had halted his execution till further orders.